Examination of Privacy and Security Perceptions of Social Media and Online Shopping Users: A Comparison Between Turkey and the USA

In a period when the protection of the privacy of personal information and data belonging to internet users became extremely important, this study intends to evaluate, analyze, and present the privacy and security perceptions of social media and online shopping users. After examination of five factors related to the information privacy and security, the research aims at investigating the relationship between these factors and their impacts on online users' protection behaviors (protection and concealment). The research also intends to make a comparison between Turkish and American online users in terms of privacy and security perceptions and their online protection behaviors. The theoretical basis of the study is the protection motivation theory, and the study is an explanatory research based on quantitative research methods that is seeking answers to specific questions and testing hypotheses with a positivist approach. After the obtained findings have been evaluated, the limitations of the study are determined, and some suggestions regarding to the future research are presented.